Havana, September 17 (KCNA) -- The director in charge of North America of the Cuban Foreign Ministry in an interview with AP on Sept. 14 rejected the U.S. accusations against Cuba.

A U.S. official recently took issue with the Cuban government, claiming that it is using U.S. prisoners as "hostage". The director labeled it an undisguised attempt to drive the Cuban government into a corner.

Cuba, a sovereign state, does not tolerate any threat, blackmail and pressure, he declared.